The Qatar Fund for Development and the Uzbekistan Art and Culture Development Foundation have signed a grant agreement worth $4,175,000 to restore the Bibi-Khanym Mosque Complex in Samarkand, the capital of the Republic of Uzbekistan. The project will be carried out by the Aga Khan Trust for Culture. The restoration of this mosque, which dates back to the 15th century, represents a crucial step in reviving and revitalizing cultural heritage in the heart of Samarkand. The mosque is considered one of the largest and most magnificent in the Islamic world.

The signing ceremony was attended by Her Excellency Sheikha Al-Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, Chairperson of Qatar Museums, Her Excellency Ms. Saida Mirziyoyeva, Assistant to the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan  His Excellency Mr. Hassan bin Hamza Hashem, Ambassador of the State of Qatar to the Republic of Uzbekistan; Mr. Sultan bin Ahmed Al-Aseeri, Acting Director General of the Qatar Fund for Development; Mrs. Gayane Umerova, Chairperson of the Board of Uzbekistan’s Art and Culture Development Foundation; and His Excellency Aga Khan, Founder and Chairman of the Aga Khan Development Network.

Following the 1897 earthquake in Uzbekistan, the architectural structure of the Bibi-Khanym Mosque suffered severe damage, leading to the collapse of the inner arch of the main iwan and destabilizing the main dome. This project aims to complete previous restoration efforts and rebuild the mosque, while also providing job opportunities to support the economic empowerment of the poorest segments of the Uzbek community. The project also seeks to revive the mosque by offering necessary training and teaching new skills that will facilitate in-depth research and precise implementation plans to preserve the mosque using traditional building techniques.

During the ceremony, Mr. Sultan bin Ahmed Al-Aseeri stated: “The Qatar Fund for Development strongly believes in the importance of supporting the friendly Republic of Uzbekistan through the restoration of the historic Bibi-Khanym Mosque to protect heritage while ensuring job creation and promoting economic growth. The fund is proud to support the restoration of this great architectural landmark, contributing to economic empowerment and boosting tourism through sustainable methods that ensure the continuity of Uzbekistan’s rich culture for future generations.”

In her speech, Mrs. Gayane Umerova, Chairperson of Uzbekistan’s Art and Culture Development Foundation, praised the significance of the project and stated “The restoration of the Bibi Khanum Mosque is not just about preserving an architectural marvel but it is also a vital investment in Uzbekistan’s cultural heritage and economic future. By engaging local communities in this transformative project between the the Uzbekistan Art and Culture Development Fund alongside the Qatar Fund for Development, we aim to empower the safeguarding of Uzbekistan’s history while creating sustainable livelihoods that benefit generations to come.”

This project underscores the ongoing support from the Qatar Fund for Development in the development and restoration of cultural centers through collaboration with leading Uzbek institutions, further strengthening the strong bilateral relations between the State of Qatar and the Republic of Uzbekistan in promoting sustainable economic growth and cultural preservation.

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Qatar Fund for Development (QFFD) holds a High Committee meeting with the Turkish Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency (AFAD) to start the development of an integrated city in North Syria to benefit the Syrian refugees.

The city will include 5,000 apartments and public facilities that includes a mosque, a market, elementary school, high school and a health center. It will also include the development of the city’s infrastructure such as paved roads, open spaces, gardens, an electricity network and water tanks.

Earlier this year, QFFD signed an agreement with AFAD in cooperation with the Decent Living Association to develop the project to benefit 50,000 Syrian refugees.

The collaboration between QFFD and AFAD is a part of the Fund’s priorities and efforts to support the Syrian people and enhance their livelihoods.

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At Qatar Fund for Development (QFFD) we are committed to support entrepreneurs and considering Small and medium size enterprise’s (SMEs) capacity to drive economic growth and job creation. In 2013, QFFD  responded to the soaring unemployment rates in Tunisia and support its economic development through entrepreneurships and technology with an endowment of US$ 97 million.

QFFD worked with seven partners, through which support was provided to entrepreneurs and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) by implementing programs focused on improving access to finance and increasing capacity building. Micro and small finance loans were provided to empower entrepreneurs, and an integrated technology hub was launched to offer technical and financial support to entrepreneurs and innovative startups.

We set the ambitious target of creating 100,000 direct and indirect jobs. Midway through the program, QFFD has supported creations of 72,866 direct and indirect jobs. The fund aims to provide 100,000 job opportunities for the Tunisian youth by the end of 2021.

The partnership of QFFD aims to enhance youth empowerment in entrepreneurship projects that will insure the individual’s economic sustainability. Sustainable youth entrepreneurship is the main channel through which economic independence can be pursued.

The beneficiaries of the youth empowerment projects testified their success, sharing her story Naima Jebali who worked in market gardening and beekeeping said “I carried out a study for the creation of an agricultural project in the rural area of El Fahs. I started my project with fairly simple means, but now thanks to my olive tree market gardening activity which marked my beginnings, my project has been twice rewarded with medals and trophies, being elected best totally organic virgin olive oil without additives in the twenty-four governorates of Tunisia.”

Another successful entrepreneur is Mariem Aliét. With the financial and technincal support she recieved from QFFD’s partnership with Zitouna Tamkeen she was able to open a well equipped coffee shop with the best equipments in the local market offering a modern service to the local community. In addition to generating more jobs opportunuties for the community.

The efforts at QFFD to support youth empowerment is a continues effort. The successful outcomes of this project indicate that with the support of partners across the world and the commitment and determination of the youth, financial independence and stability can be obtained to various communities.

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Qatar Fund for Development inaugurates the “Qatar Mosque” as part of the Rawabi City project in Palestine

Qatar Fund for Development inaugurated the Qatar Mosque in the Rawabi city project in Palestine in the presence of the Palestinian Prime Minister His Excellency Dr. Muhammad Shtayyeh and a delegation from the State of Qatar headed by His Excellency Mr. Khalifa bin Jassim Al-Kuwari, Director General of Qatar Fund for Development, and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Bayti Real Estate Investment Company, which owns the project. The founding partner is the Palestinian businessman Mr. Bashar Al-Masry and the Mufti of Jerusalem Sheikh Muhammad Ahmad Hussein, in addition to important VIP’s from the Palestinian community.

The mosque was built on a total area of about 8,400 square meters, and the capacity of the mosque is estimated at about 3,000 worshipers, including one prayer room for men and another for women, in addition to a multi-use hall and various facilities. By opening the mosque, it will contribute to meeting the residents of the city and will play a fundamental role in reviving the city and neighboring villages, especially in important religious events.

It is worth noting that Qatar Mosque is part of the first phase of the project, with a total of 6 residential neighborhoods, which provide about 2000 housing units in addition to various office spaces and a commercial market with more than 100 brands. The project also includes various public facilities such as Rawabi Academy, the Grand Roman Amphitheater and public parks.

Rawabi is the only integrated city in the West Bank, as it was established in 2007. The city has also contributed to providing direct job opportunities for more than 800 Palestinian employees working to develop this vital project in addition to about 10,000 indirect job opportunities. The project also contributed to providing high-end housing units for people with income. The Mediterranean, in a modern style, contains all the important amenities for its residents.

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